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Wot ye not, that such a man as I, can certainly divine?
Whether Joseph was such a Diviner as he seemed? Nay, the second que∣stion is, whether he seemed to be such? If he now pretended to augurising, divination, or soothsaying, for the dissembling or concealing of himself from his Brethren; this was not to be approved in him; Much less can it
countenance the pretenders hereunto, who would dissemble with all the world, so long as they can possibly conceal their jugling and prestigious un∣postures. Yet he sayes not, I can divine: but such a man as I, he can di∣vine. Wherein he discovers the pravity, not of his person, but of those in place. It being (great like) with the Egyptians, as with the Persians; the greater men, the greater Magicians; the greater Personages, the greater Pla∣netarians. And why should he say, Wott ye not; if this very thing were not too notorious? who can imagine that Joseph Would vainly boast himself in such a superstitious faculty: that had so modestly denied himself in a true divine gift? Chap. 4. vers. 16. And therefore, why may wee not accept the word in a good sense; not for a superstitious and sorcerous, but for a prudent and politick conjectation? It is so taken, Chap. 30. vers. 27. and 1 King. 20. 33. and why not so here, rather than there? Admit the same word (from his own mouth) be taken in an ill sense, vers. 5. yet is there not a difference betwixt the persons spoken of; an heathenish Prince, and an holy Patriark? Likewise in the act, and usage of Divination, and an allegation? As also in the thing it self, and the manner of it; a superstitious and sorcerous divining in or by a Cup: and a prudent policy, in making tri∣all, or sifting and searching to find out a Cup lost, or missing? Men of conscience, taking Josephs practice and example here at the best, think it not ordinarily imitable, what conscience then are those men of that would make it worse than it was, and yet make it imitable too?